Image forming apparatus and method for saving resources and improving user friendliness

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and a method thereof are disclosed. The image forming apparatus comprises: a first interface unit, which includes a first port and a second port, respectively used for establishing a first channel and a second channel between the image forming apparatus and a driving device of the image forming apparatus; an imaging controller, used for receiving data from the first channel as page data to be imaged, and acquiring data from the second channel as virtual data; and a timer, used for calculating a first duration from a last time when the image forming apparatus receives either page data from the first channel or virtual data from the second channel, whichever comes later, wherein when the first duration reaches a first predetermined duration, the imaging controller performs timeout handling for ceasing a present imaging job. The image forming apparatus can save resources and improve user friendliness.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a first interface unit, which includes a first port and a second port, respectively used for establishing a first channel and a second channel between the image forming apparatus and a driving device of the image forming apparatus; 
 an imaging controller used for receiving data from the first channel as page data to be imaged, and acquiring data from the second channel as virtual data used to prevent the image forming apparatus from ceasing a current imaging job; and 
 a timer used for calculating a first duration from a last time when the image forming apparatus receives either page data from the first channel or virtual data from the second channel, whichever comes later, 
 wherein when the first duration reaches a first predetermined duration, the imaging controller performs timeout handling for ceasing a present imaging job; 
 wherein the first interface unit, the imaging controller and the timer are controlled by a processor; 
 wherein the image controller is further used for: 
 acquiring the data from the second channel; 
 judging whether the data acquired from the second channel conform to a pre-established rule; 
 determining the data acquired to be virtual data, if the data are judged to conform to the pre-established rule; and 
 wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the data acquired comprise A, B, C, or D, or alternatively comprise D and any one of A, B, and C, among which: 
 A represents any one of a pre-established group of data, or a pre-established datum; 
 B represents data generated in accordance with a pre-established random number generation rule; 
 C represents pre-established attribute information of an imaging job, including at least one selected from a group consisting of name, type of document, creator, sequence of current page data, size and creation time of the current page data of the imaging job; and 
 D represents encrypted data obtained by encrypting above A, B, or C with a specified key. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the data acquired comprise A, B, C, or D, or alternatively comprise D and any one of A, B, and C, and
 wherein the data acquired further comprise a virtual data identifier. 
 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first interface unit is in the form of any one selected from a group consisting of a USB interface, a parallel interface, and a network communication interface. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit, which has a first buffer and a second buffer, respectively used for caching data from the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
       5. An image forming method of an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a first channel and a second channel between the image forming apparatus and a driving device of the image forming apparatus with a first port and a second port of the image forming apparatus, respectively; 
 receiving data from the first channel as page data to be imaged, and acquiring data from the second channel as virtual data used to prevent the image forming apparatus from ceasing a current imaging job; and 
 calculating a first duration from a last time when the image forming apparatus receives either page data from the first channel or virtual data from the second channel, whichever comes later, 
 wherein when the first duration reaches a first predetermined duration, an imaging controller performs timeout handling for ceasing a present imaging job; 
 wherein the step of acquiring data from the second channel as virtual data further comprises: 
 acquiring the data from the second channel; 
 judging whether the data acquired from the second channel conform to a pre-established rule; 
 determining the data acquired to be virtual data, if the data are judged to conform to the pre-established rule; and 
 wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the data acquired comprise any one of A, B, C, and D, or alternatively comprise D and any one of A, B, and C, among which: 
 A represents any one of a pre-established group of data, or a pre-established datum; 
 B represents data generated in accordance with a pre-established random number generation rule; 
 C represents pre-established attribute information of an imaging job, including at least one selected from a group consisting of name, type of document, creator, sequence of current page data, size and creation time of the current page data of the imaging job; and 
 D represents encrypted data obtained by encrypting above A, B, or C with a specified key. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the data acquired comprise a virtual data identifier and any one of A, B, C, and D, or alternatively comprise a virtual data identifier, D, and any one of A, B, and C. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the virtual data comprise a virtual data identifier and any one of A, B, C, and D, or alternatively comprise a virtual data identifier, D, and any one of A, B, and C. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of transmitting virtual data to the image forming apparatus via the second channel comprises transmitting the virtual data to the image forming apparatus via the second channel in any one of the following occasions:
 when the current imaging job begins; or 
 a second predetermined duration passes after the current imaging job begins, the second predetermined duration being shorter than or equal to the first predetermined duration; and 
 when a first timeout occurs in a rendering step of the current imaging job. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of transmitting virtual data to the image forming apparatus via the second channel specifically comprises:
 transmitting the virtual data continuously or periodically at intervals shorter than or equal to the first predetermined duration, after the virtual data are first sent to the image forming apparatus via the second channel. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising ceasing to transmit virtual data to the image forming apparatus via the second channel, upon completely rendering the current printing job, transmission of all page data, or cancellation of the current printing job. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising: performing supervisory control so as to cease to transmit virtual data to the image forming apparatus and perform exception handling of the imaging job, upon excess of a third predetermined duration in rendering one data page, excess of a fourth predetermined duration for the current imaging job, and/or occurrence of abnormality during communications with the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       12. An image forming method, comprising the steps of:
 generating virtual data used for preventing an image forming apparatus from ceasing a current imaging job due to failure of receiving any data within a first predetermined duration; 
 establishing a first channel and a second channel with the image forming apparatus; and 
 transmitting page data acquired by rendering document data to be imaged to the image forming apparatus via the first channel, and transmitting virtual data to the image forming apparatus via the second channel; 
 wherein the step of generating virtual data further comprises generating the virtual data in accordance with a pre-established rule; and 
 wherein the pre-established rule prescribes that the virtual data comprise any one of A, B, C, and D, or alternatively comprise D and any one of A, B, and C, among which: 
 A represents any one of a pre-established group of data, or a pre-established datum; 
 B represents data generated in accordance with a pre-established random number generation rule; 
 C represents pre-established attribute information of an imaging job, including at least one selected from a group consisting of name, type of document, creator, and creation time of the imaging job; and 
 D represents encrypted data obtained after encrypting above A, B, or C with a specified key.